ribbons up on the sunny open fence posts

Size
Length: 5–15 cm
Lifespan
10–30 years
Diet
Obtains nutrients via symbiotic partnership. Fungus provides structure. Alga provides photosynthetic food. Requires clean air and good light.
Habitat
Grows on bark of trees, rocks, and fence posts in open, sunny locations. Forms erect, shrubby, flattened ribbon-like branches.
Range
Found throughout the North and South Islands on bark of trees, rocks, and fence posts in open, sunny locations. Most common in the North Island and the northern South Island. Also found in temperate regions worldwide.
Endemism
Native
Main Threats
None significant. This species is common and widespread in open, sunny locations. Localised threats include removal of old trees, air pollution, and bark disturbance.
Population
Not Threatened. This is a common and widespread lichen in New Zealand, particularly in the North Island and the northern South Island. It grows on the bark of native and introduced trees, on rocks, and on fence posts.
Conservation Status
Not Threatened
Human Risk
harmless
Handling Note
fruticose lichen, safe to handle
Conservation Note
Native lichen; not assessed by NZTCS as lichens are generally outside the scope of current threat classifications.
Te Ao Māori
No recorded Māori name distinguishes the ramalina branch lichen from other lichens. Lichens were generally called pūkohu (mosses and lichens) or pukorokoro (crustose lichens). The flattened, ribbon-like branches would have been noticed. They looked like the leaves of a plant. Like the fronds of a fern. But no distinct name survives. The ramalina branch lichen was sometimes used as a dye. The pale greenish pigment could be extracted. Used to colour fibres. Though it was not as vibrant as other lichens.
Look closely. The tree is wearing a wig. Ramalina branch lichen looks like a bundle of ribbons. It has a body that is pale greyish-green. With flattened, branching ribbons that rise from the bark like a small shrub. The branches are flat and strap-like. Not round like other fruticose lichens. They are often twisted or curled. Catching the light and the air. It is the lichen of the ribbon bush. The one that looks like it is waving in the wind. The one that makes the tree look like it is wearing a tiny green wig. What makes it special is the shape. The ramalina branch lichen is a fruticose lichen. Meaning it grows upright, like a tiny shrub. But with flattened, ribbon-like branches. The branches are 2 to 5 centimetres tall. Often clustered together in dense tufts. They are pale greyish-green. Sometimes with a hint of yellow or brown. The tips of the branches are often split or frayed. Like the end of a worn ribbon. It is the lichen of the flattened branch. The one that looks like it was pressed by a giant thumb. The one that is both delicate and tough. The branches are stiff and brittle. Not flexible like Usnea. They snap when bent. With a clean break. The surface is smooth and shiny. Often covered in tiny, white spots (pseudocyphellae) that help the lichen breathe. Under a hand lens, the white spots are visible. Tiny pores scattered across the surface of the branches. Biologically, the ramalina branch lichen is a partnership. A fungus and an alga live together. The fungus provides structure and protection. The alga provides food through photosynthesis. The flattened shape of the branches increases the surface area for photosynthesis. Allowing the lichen to capture more light. To find ramalina branch lichen is to find the tiny ribbon bush on the bark. It is pale, branching, and ribbon-like. A miniature shrub on the tree. You can run your finger over the flattened branches. Feel the smooth, shiny surface. It is the lichen of the ribbon bush. The one that catches the light and the air. The one that proves that the most interesting shapes are often the simplest.